Right away, I have to say that if you are just looking at that "Thumbs Up" icon, and thinking you should go out and see this, I say stop right where you are.  "Waiting..." is the perfect movie to wait and catch on DVD (hell, I'm not even saying you should buy it; just rent it).

"Waiting..." is the newest film to come along where the story is worth absolute dick.  In fact, the whole movie itself is rather boring.  Like "Dodgeball," "Kung Fu Hustle," or "Wedding Crashers," this is one of those movies where it really is the actors and the performances that make the film worth seeing.  Though, this one is not nearly as good as "Dodgeball," "Kung Fu Hustle," or "Wedding Crashers."

The story of the film (or, rather, the excuse to spend the whole day with a couple of twenty-something's at a restauarant called Shenanigan's) has youngster Dean (Justin Long) down on his luck after hearing his classmate from high school has gone on to a high-profile engineering career that will make him lots of money.  Unfortunately, Dean is stuck at a local T.G.I. Fridays-like restaurant, where, on a good night, he'll make fifty dollars in tips.

Again, this is just a set-up so Ryan Reynolds can mug, Justin Long can pout, Anna Faris can look hot, Chi McBride can be philosophical, Robert Patrick Benedict can be neurotic, Luis Guzman can act filthy, and Andy Milonakis can be not funny.  "Waiting..." is writer/director Rob McKittrick's first feature film.  And while he does a decent job keeping all of these characters in check, he runs into other problems with his script.  Something tells me that he thought he was sucessfully melding together "Clerks" with "Animal House."  Unfortunately, "Waiting..." fails to ever get as funny as the aforementioned two.

That's not to say it is a loss.  I am reccomending this after all.  Ryan Reynolds really is the star of the show.  If you liked his quips in "Blade Trinity" or "Van Wilder," you'll love him here.  If you found him annoying in "Blade Trinity" or "Van Wilder," well, don't expect a change of heart after seeing this movie.  Another highlight is the entire kitchen crew, who really should have been the stars of the show.  Head lined by Luis Guzman, Chi McBride, and comedian Dane Cook, these guys do not get nearly enough screen time (especially Cook, though the previews would have you believe he is a main character; really, he's getting a glorified cameo here and there).

Now, the biggest problem I had with "Waiting..." is that I can't help but notice that A.) this area was already tackled in "Office Space" and B.) though this area was only tackled for about twenty minutes of screen time in "Office Space," it was much better as a twenty minute side story than a full length film.  Not only does this one drag every so often, but there are a few painfully unfunny parts, mostly featuring the aforementioned Milonakis.  This "kid" sucks the funny out of every scene he is in... not to mention he is paired with a Jason Mewes wannabe, and both end up coming off as a really, really poor man's Jay and Silent Bob.

Like I already said, don't go out and pay almost ten dollars to see this in a theater.  Wait until it comes out on DVD and, even then, just rent it for five bucks.  This is the perfect movie for a group watch and, once it is over, I highly doubt it will ever be watched again.

It is easy to see that McKittrick really wanted to make this a memorable satire on restaurant employees and their everyday antics.  In fact, I think I heard somewhere that this was written while the director was working at a Bennigan's.  And, though I have never worked at a restaurant, I have worked retail for a year and a half, and there are many similar situations presented in "Waiting..." that I could appreciate.  Unfortunately, I do not see this film ever replacing "Clerks" or "Office Space" as the perfect work place comedy.

Plus, I could have really gone without seeing Guzman's balls.

**1/2 out of ****

Good review. I had forgotten about Waiting..., and it seems everyone else has too. It was released just 10 days ago and it's not even in the top 10 anymore. I thought the cast and situation looked mildly amusing (I used to work in a restaurant), but I could tell it was a wait-for-DVD kinda movie.